The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-08
FACTS VS.. GUSH.
The Voice of the Press Heard.
Unanimous Demand for tho Lives
of the Anarchists.
Society Must Be Protected, and Must
be by the Law.
New York Papers Insist that No
Clemency Be Granted.
Foolish Sentimentalism Influences the
People Who Sympathize with the
Condemned Yesterdays
Incidents.

New York, Nov. Under the head OF
"Facts VS.. Gush, " the Tribune this morn
ing says: ''We feel that we are performing
public service in laying before our read
ers the summary we print on another page
OF the decision OF the Illinois supreme
court in the anarchist cases. We ask all
persons whose faith in the justice OF the
conviction of these men may have been
shaken by the loud talk OF socalistic dem
agogues, and the soft-heartcd appeals Of
sentimentalists to read il. These people
have had most Of the talk TO themselves,
while the great patient public has been ST.
lent. The result has been that many we'll
meaning persons, whose sympathies are
with justice, are getting the impression
that these men are TO be hanged for 'ex-
pressing opinions The truth is, on the
contrary, that they ore TO be hanged for
participation in one of the most deliberate
and diabolical conspiraccs for murder and
assassination ever devised by man; that
their completely is proved by vast array
of evidence, and that under the law OF Illi-
nois, which would seem TO be also the law
of common sense and common Justice. each
one Of them is as guiltyas the man who fired
the bomb. We doubt very much whether
the few clcrgymen and the other humani-
tarians who have been led into q mistaken
movement for clcmcncy have any proper
knowledge Of the facts. II is difficult TO
understand, on any other supposition, the
sympathy some OF them have expressed
with these en-, who have been convicted
after long and careful trial, and the JUS
ticc Of whose conviction was unanimously
affirmed by the highest court in the State,
upon n laborious and patient examination
of the evidence. IL is true that the United
States supreme court did not ~ into the
merits Of the case, and could not, hut the
Illinois supreme court did, aud We believe
every reasonable man who reads the sum-
mary We print will bc convinced that
when these men are hanged only simple
Justice will be done. We wish We had
the space 20 show, also, more Of the man
ner Ia which these inen spoke and wrote
in their newspapers not under the intlu-
ence OF excitement, but in cold blood, in
H order Co incite the masses tO violence.
We should probably hear less Of them
then as objects of sentimental interest,
and hear lcss Of the half veilcd toleraiion
with which they are regarded ms men who
really believe that social order Is all
wrong, and that they ought 90 he allowed
90 right IL with dynamite. The spirit Of
Guiteau WIS peace itself compared with
the malignity Oi these human rltlcsnakcs
They should be- crushed under foot be-
cause, under the laws Of the country, they
have earned death"
The World says
"lf the police are not 10 be protected 10y
the laws in the discharge oi their duty,
they can scarcely be expected TO oycrcxcrt
themselves IN that particular. The issue
Is mainly between the propricty Of yindi-
eating the laws and the sentimental dislike
TO taking human life"
The Herald says
1--WE hesitate to express an opinion in
regard to human beings whose lives arc
hanging in the balance. But society de-
serves some consideration in the presence
Of q crime ~ fierce as that committed 10y
these condemned, aud which IL would
seem they are preparing 10 repeat. Gov.
Oglcsby has expressed no opinion ~ 10
what his action will be in regard 90 these
criminals. With him lies the power oi
pardon or rupricyal. II they are To die on
Friday, humanity would dictate that they
should know their fate in time 10 make
decent preparations for the end. Gov.
Oglcsby has had weeks, even months, In
which to examine this case. Ills delay
adds the inhunanity Of torture 10 what
may bc terrible punishment"
The Times SAYS
"ln general Il IL very ungracious act
10 intcrposc In any way between q
person under sentence Of death and
the official TO whom an appeal Is made
In his behalf for executive clcmcncy.
Tho case Of the condemned anarchists
docs not come within the general rule. Pc
titions for q Communication Of their sentence
have been signed by several citizens OF
high standing, who put their appeal solely
upon the ground Of public policy. There
are other petitioners and other sgncm who
are OF the soit-hcartcd and solt-hoadcd
kind Of people 10 whom II appears very
dreadful that ANYBODY should be- done q
death by law for any oilcnsc whatsoever
II no Others had appealed 10 the Gov
ernor Of Illinois for mercy there would be
no occasion for any remarks by thos,
whose interest In the matter Is simply that
of supporters Of order and friends of civili
zation. but II those who hold that jusiic,
and policy require that the sentence OF th,
court should bo executed remain silent
Gov. Oglcsby will be justified In supposinl
that they acquicscc In the appeal mad,
10 him TO spare the lives Of th'
murdorcrs. Clearly, there was new
er case that appealed less 10 anl
sentiment Of human pity. II We take th'
view that punishment should be rctribu
tive, there was never litter occasion fo
the inniction By society OF retribution OF
is enemies. Il We take the view tia
punishment Is cXcmplar the case seem
10 be equally clear, apd yet Il is In thi
vcw that the execution Of thc sentence I
deprecated by some men of high standing
In Chicago, Of whom the most distinguished
Is Mr.. Trumbull. Mr.. Trumbull's owl
connection with the ease, as counsel 70
the prisoners, has been such, and 70 mucl
use has been made by them Of the argu
ment that he made professionally and nm
der his retainer, that his present dcclaru
tion now does not carry anything like th
weight that would belong 70 Il i lac spok
merely as disintcrcsted citizen. A
a question Of public policy II seems TO II
. that these petitioners have made q gray
mistake. The question Is, will II pay
10 treat murderer Who calls himself a
anarchist differently from murderer VII
makes no such pretcntionsl II II DC M